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PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
Secondly, the progress of the Council's projects should be decided by the actual need. They should not be accelerated or slowed down because of any social problem. At the same time, the progress should be determined by the financial situation. As every Member is aware, a ceiling on expenditure has been laid down by each select committee for the current financial year and this must be strictly adhered to. No expenditure beyond the limit is allowed.
As for the supplementary provision, it could be sought for but the chance of success is not assured. If the income from land disposal decreases, there will be a negative growth in the gross domestic product, which might result in a deficit budget. To seek supplementary provision when the Government itself is in financial straits would only give one more excuse to the Government for rejection. Furthermore, it has been an established policy to review the financial provision every three years, which stipulates that spending must be based on the income. It is therefore easier said than done to take the liberty to increase staff and remuneration at the expense of others. I earnestly hope that Members will think twice about increasing staff and accelerating the projects, which will deviate from our prudent financial policy.
We have already adjusted our policy on market rentals by waiving or reducing the rentals of some market stalls, which alone has already caused difficulties in that we can no longer make our ends meet. To go further by advancing our projects and seeking supplementary provision from the Government is something I hardly consider to be desirable. Accordingly, I do not support the motion.
As the motion recommends to study the issue, I might consider abstaining from voting.
MR. TOMMY CHEUNG YU-YAN (in Cantonese): As far as the spirit of Ms. Grace Au's motion is concerned, I am sure all Members will support her. I agree that we should first clarify whether Ms. Au's motion has aims other than 'studying'. I too would like to confirm this before casting my vote.
Regarding the advancement of phase-III and phase-IV projects, I consider that the additional posts thus created do not necessarily alleviate the current high rate of unemployment in Hong Kong. At the last meeting of the Museums Select Committee, I stated clearly that the creation of additional posts must be carefully considered. In the end, it was resolved at the meeting that only seven of the 14 proposed additional posts be created. It was not that we were entirely against the creation of additional posts, but that careful consideration must be made. At the meeting, I also raised some points. I queried whether there was really the need to create so many managerial posts. The Council is hard up for money in that there is a shortage of some $3b. A lot of issues have been discussed for two to three months. I can recall that last time when we discussed the option of freezing rentals, which cost us only some $80m, we already felt the pinch. How we are going to make up for the shortfall
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